Tuesday, April 24, 2007

Likelihood of Confusion Blog Reports on Hasidic Trademark Dispute

Ron Coleman at the Likelihood of Confusion blog reports here on an "Hasidic trademark fight" between two competing Hasidic groups over registration and use of the term "BOBOV." So far the dispute includes a letter of protest to the PTO, a civil lawsuit, several TTAB oppositions, and a motion to dismiss the oppositions on the ground that the parties are contractually bound to arbitrate the matter in the Beis Din [rabbinical court].

The letter of protest asserts that "'BOBOV', a descriptive, non-distinct term which defines members of the Bobov Hasidic Community, should not and cannot be registered as a trademark by any particular person, institution, group, or sub-group within or without the Bobov community.".